JOHANNESBURG – Both Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s famous ‘blue house’ and the Zimbabwean Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) has been sealed off by heavily armed military personnel, Khuluma Afrika is reporting.Tanks were spotted heading to the capital Harare just a day after army chief Constantino Chiwenga, in an unprecedented move, openly threatened to ‘step in’ to end a purge of supporters of ousted vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Source: Mugabe’s house, ZBC reportedly sealed off by army – ENCA
Controversial Mugabe has historically tightened personal security, especially over simple things like social media dissent or strikes by workers.
eNCA’s Zimbabwean correspondent Pindai Dube confirmed the tanks were visible in the streets of Harare, with sources indicating it was a ‘show of force’ rather than a coup.
South African Airways spokesperson Tlali Tlali said flights between Zimbabwe and South Africa are continuing as usual.
“Our flights between the two countries are operating as per published schedules. Should there be a change in scheduling, a public and customer notification will be issued,” he added.
Sacked vice-president Mnangagwa, 75, a long-serving veteran of Zimbabwe’s 1970s liberation wars, had been viewed as a likely successor to Mugabe before the president fired him on 6 November.
His downfall appeared to pave the way for Mugabe’s wife, Grace, to succeed the 93-year-old president.
Robert Mugabe is the only leader Zimbabwe has known in 37 years of independence.
Additional reporting by Reuters
eNCA
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